[[Image:Adaraneeya_Kathavak.jpg|800px|thumb|centre| Image 1: The promotional trailer of ‘’Adaraneeya Kathavak’’ depicting its main character holding a cigarette in his hand.<ref>Cinema.lk. [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053736/http://cinema.lk/adaraneeya-kathawak-official-teaser/ Adaraneeya Kathawak Official Teaser Trailer], undated, accessed January 2018</ref>]]

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''Adaraneeya Kathawak'' (English: A melody of Love) is a 2016 Sri Lankan movie in Sinhala language. Directed by [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053041/http://creativeforcesl.com/director/ Priyantha Colombage], it was co-produced by [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053041/http://creativeforcesl.com/director/ Priyantha Kolambage] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013051707/https://www.insights.lk/ Chaminda Gamage].

''Adaraneeya Kathawak'' (English: A melody of Love) is a 2016 Sri Lankan movie in Sinhala language. Directed by [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053041/http://creativeforcesl.com/director/ Priyantha Colombage], it was co-produced by [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053041/http://creativeforcesl.com/director/ Priyantha Kolambage] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013051707/https://www.insights.lk/ Chaminda Gamage].

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=== Direct and Indirect Promotions of Tobacco and Alcohol===

=== Direct and Indirect Promotions of Tobacco and Alcohol===

The movie had scenes depicting consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The promotional trailer of the movie (Image 1) featured the main character (Hemal Ranasinghe) drinking alcohol with a cigarette in his hand.

The movie had scenes depicting consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The promotional trailer of the movie (Image 1) featured the main character (Hemal Ranasinghe) drinking alcohol with a cigarette in his hand.

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[[Image:Adaraneeya_Kathavak.jpg|800px|thumb|centre| Image 1: The promotional trailer of ‘’Adaraneeya Kathavak’’ depicting its main character holding a cigarette in his hand.<ref>Cinema.lk. [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053736/http://cinema.lk/adaraneeya-kathawak-official-teaser/ Adaraneeya Kathawak Official Teaser Trailer], undated, accessed January 2018</ref>]]

The film, influenced by Bollywood romantic musical Aashiqui 2 premiered on 10th June 2016 at the Colombo Regal Cinema.[4][5][6]

Direct and Indirect Promotions of Tobacco and Alcohol

The movie had scenes depicting consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The promotional trailer of the movie (Image 1) featured the main character (Hemal Ranasinghe) drinking alcohol with a cigarette in his hand.

“any writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or distinctive colours or other visual image or any audible message or any combination of the aforesaid that promotes or is intended to promote – smoking, the purchase or use of a tobacco product, a trade mark registered in respect of a tobacco product or articles that include tobacco products, a brand name associated with a tobacco product, the name of the manufacturer of a tobacco product.”

NATA observed that some scenes violated the legal clause on direct advertisements by displaying trademarks of some cigarette brands (Dunhill). National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) reported that the film included 15 scenes promoting tobacco use, thus violating the clause on indirect advertisements as well.[9]

The Court Decisions

The complaint was taken up at Colombo Magistrate’s Court. At the first hearing, the court ordered the director, National Film Corporation Chairman and Majestic Cinema Manager to provide a full-length version of the movie to the police to observe scenes promoting tobacco, violating the section 35 of the NATA Act. This was in the context of film Director Priyantha Colombage reporting that he didn’t have a copy of the film to handover to the courts.[10][11][12][13]

In the next hearing, the Police confirmed that the alleged film contained such scenes and included promotive scenes of Dunhill Cigarette brand.[14][15]